AUSTIN, TX — Texas Representative David Acton’s (R-Fort Worth) bill to provide resources to police officers and civilian volunteers to assist in spotting signs of human trafficking in integral Texas highways has moved from debate on to a final vote in the Texas Legislature. Representative Acton looks forward to the bill passing, expecting no serious opposition from such a bipartisan and common-sense bill. Here is the speech he gave in support of the bill on the House floor: “Mr. President, “I want to thank legislative leadership for acting so swiftly to bring this bill to the floor. Not only is the fight against human trafficking a key priority of my state, it is a key issue for national security and human rights. “It is no secret that our neighbor to the south has struggled with its own internal stability for a long time. The chaos down there has often spilled over into our nation, and particularly for the last few decades, our border policy has not kept up with modern challenges. Because of these failings, the drug cartels of Mexico and Latin America have profited greatly as they traffick drugs and people into our much wealthier country. “Human trafficking is a particularly despicable scourge. It makes modern day slaves out of human beings, made in the image of God, who do not deserve the abuse and horrible conditions they are often subjected to. It also exacerbates our own security concerns by feeding the cartels more financial resources, leverage, and influence, along with contributing substantially to illegal immigration. And as a large and wealthy border state with large interconnected interstates, Texas is a key transportation hub for the human scum responsible for such crimes. “This bill is a modest but effective proposal that will lay a foundation that we can build on with future efforts. By equipping law enforcement and volunteers with more knowledge and training, they can be more effective eyes and ears, able to spot and report signs of trafficking earlier than previously, over a broader area, in times and places we know that traffickers will be present. This is not merely a moral crusade; it’s a practical measure. “While my colleagues often have many disagreements with me over border policy and immigration, we should be able to agree that human trafficking is bad. We should be able to all get behind this bill and pass it quickly. Thank you. “I yield the floor.“